Is that it???

No doubt, a figure plucked from an open orifice so as not to frighten the horses.

A blunt razor scratching the surface.

Why not 30% or larger?

Or termination, period.

Labor goes walkabout

Industries like solar thermal and geo-thermal will power our future and power job creation.

Incumbent ALP at their conference has promised the world to make Queensland 'the solar state of Oz'. Also stakes their chances on creating a 'Green Army' of 100,000 new jobs whilst doing an ex-NZ copycat 2000 Km long walk. Never mind, Kevin was there to help.

I'd say too much time in that sun on walkabout. Mind you, Queensland politics has always been about the biggest bribe. And dirt.

The Bligh government asks where is all the money coming from?" he said.

"We simply say where has all the money gone?"

In his speech, federal Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull accused the Bligh government of delivering a terrible trifecta of higher unemployment, higher debt and more strikes.

"They're so incompetent they couldn't sell fresh fish to starving seals."

The other side patently has a more realistic handle on the economy.

Local governance and footballers

Most Aucklanders don't believe they get value for money from their rates. Most suspect the local body structure of several warring city states is clumsy, inefficient and prevents effective regional infrastructural development.

The ARC's claim to be the answer that they are skilled regional managers is met with one word.

Beckham.

Ralston nails the sorry state of politics in Orklund, suggesting the few out-of-towners likely to be upset are matters immaterial.

Darwin awards required

A overpaid bench warmer issues a warning.

Should have signed off a couple of Darwins. Much cheaper.

Complaints and warnings

As an established political party receives singular attention for commonplace practice, possibly because it irks some socialist teacher/local, can I look forward to similar complaints and warnings for other political entities conducting their legitimate business?

I thought not.

As Mr Plod suggests, no crime. Some will complain about anything that confronts their world-view.

Not racist, stabbing OK

So screams the headlines.

A witch hunt has been conducted and parents / community fears supposedly allayed.

Nothing about a teacher being near fatally stabbed in the course of his duties. More about the restrained kid who did the damage. Once again the perp is centre-stage. And I did note the local MP was lurking.

Nothing racial found, therefore workplace stabbings are OK.

What a sad indictment on today's society.

Daddy working his magic

Daddy, Dearest continues to try to get his daughter out of the brown stuff. On a technicality, nonetheless, no doubt with the best legals money can buy. The brown stuff is flowing because she had been allegedly playing with the white stuff.

She won't listen to Daddy, just she obviously likes a bit of bad.

Time wasting headlines

Been busy, busy, busy last few days. Blogging light. Actually working for living. Don't worry, that silliness will stop before week's end.

Get really annoyed with headlines like this below.

A vicious, filthy thug without conscience

And when I get there, it's about some drug peddler shagging his way round Oz.

Nothing about the fiscal fool at all.

What a waste of my time.

Oral Animation

KG over at Crusader Rabbit has a message for all those who voted National. The picture says it all as the fiscal fool is offered plum jobs.

What was ordered on Nov 8th was NActional.



What is now apparent is that a bunch of 'me too' cocksuckers are at the helm.

ps
'Oral Animation' is an apt anagram.

"We are not being tribal about this."

The fiscal fool that has plundered this country's vaults for the next decade because of his fanatical ideology is to be tipped for a plum SOE job.

You have to be bloody joking, John Key! Political suicide. Like myself, I daresay there would be more than a few that would like to go absolutely tribal on this matter.

Something like not being given an option for sunrise or sunset, but taken out and shot forthwith.

Gotta have one of these!

Still trying to master Rubik's?

Get yourself a Pentaminx Dodecahedral puzzle to test your sanity.

The ultimate present for the precocious know-it-all rugrats in your life. Guaranteed to quieten them down for longer than a sugar fix rush.

The picture? A ratings booster.

Both available at Geeks are Sexy.

Simon Power replies on s92

At least he has had the decency to reply to my email.

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Minister of Commerce, Hon Simon Power, asked me to thank you for your email regarding section 92A of the Copyright Act 1994. Your concerns have been noted.

Section 92A allows for termination of accounts of repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances. A purpose of this provision is to provide an effective means for dealing with behaviour which clearly infringes copyright, recognising that this behaviour can be costly for New Zealand’s creative industries. This is especially important given recent technological developments which now make it easier for online copyright infringement to occur. This amendment is not intended to deprive law-abiding businesses or private users of access to the internet.

Some have interpreted this legislation to assume guilt upon accusation of copyright infringement. There are concerns that this could lead to the termination of an alleged infringer’s internet account without evidence or opportunity for a user to provide a defence. In order to clarify the operation of section 92A, a voluntary code of practice (the Code) is being developed by internet service providers (ISPs) in consultation with the public and copyright holders.

In brief, the Code will likely outline that in accordance with section 92A, a user will receive fair warning regarding an alleged infringement. The user will then have the opportunity to refute any or all of the alleged infringements. As a backstop, section 92A only allows for account termination in appropriate circumstances. It is unlikely that termination will be appropriate where an alleged infringement has been disputed.

Section 92A has been delayed from coming into force by one month until 27 March 2009. The purpose of this delay is to allow ISPs and rights-holders time to complete the joint development of the Code. If a voluntary code is developed and the new section is implemented, both will be reviewed within six months to see how they are working.

It is important that the Copyright Act achieves an appropriate balance between the interests of copyright creators, owners and users.

Thank you for taking the time to raise this with the Minister.

Yours sincerely,

David Lilly

Private Secretary – Commerce

I remain unconvinced that this is nothing but another part of the Kiwi Stasi. It appears that although bloggers like me and others have had their say, no notice is being taken and the same law will be activated forthwith at the end of the month.

Why the exact termination process is not defined in law, but some external, open to mis-interpretation, guidelines of no legal standing is beyond me. Guidelines are liable to changed or dispensed with, dependent on circumstance to suit whoever is power on the day. A fish-and-chip clause if I ever saw one.

Such vagueness of law left to voluntary guidelines is in the same realm of our number one cultural atrocity at law. That of the 'Waitangi principles'. Written into anything and everything that needs a palm greased.

Make no mistake, a different set of palms are being greased here. Mainly ones in california in the entertainment industry.

If you stand accused, you are guilty, without any formal proceedings.

What a load of bollocks!

The Great Kiwi Firewall

The right to use the internet is a vital one,
but libraries can provide it.

So that was their grand scheme under s92a. To have all Internet access onsite at a local library. Taxes for access collected at logon. The Great Kiwi Firewall.

Just how did this Liarbour trougher expect me to be able to peruse subversive material such as No Minister and other VRWC blogs. MWT will jump at the next ratings release as his traffic is severely curtailed. I can just imagine some failed school marm at the local library giving my browsing the once over. No pr0n Barnsley Bill ever again.

Must be part of that FTA we signed last year with those human rights abusers who think they own Tibet. Don't they have a pro-active firewall in place to limit subversives?

HT Crusader Rabbit

Normal service resumes at MWT

Lee has seen fit to resume normal service.

A wake up call for us lurkers not being active commenters.

And for the ladies who can't stop smiling, I guess the 'future Mrs Monkey' is being replaced.

Suspicious?

Scene to yet come. Slightly modified defence as used in a recent high-profile case. Nothing to see here...

'He walked into the TV, yer Honour.'

I suppose we will see Corrections will be placing a large order for 50" plasma screens, quoting Elf'n'safety, sometime soon.